Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Libreville Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Libreville

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,684 in Libreville, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,740 in Libreville, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,795 in Libreville, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 23% cheaper than Libreville, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Libreville is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$17.45 FCFA 9,839

-32.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$79.7 FCFA 44.9K

-47.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$13.18 FCFA 7,435

-19.27%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.25 FCFA 3,525

-43.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.12

$1.46 FCFA 823

3.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.38 FCFA 777

-29.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$1.09 FCFA 615

170.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$1.63 FCFA 919

173.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$2.98 FCFA 1,679

-53.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.47 FCFA 829

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$4.20 FCFA 2,367

-60.95%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$5.33 FCFA 3,005

-52.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$9.20 FCFA 5,186

-9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$8.59 FCFA 4,845

-2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$26.56 FCFA 15.0K

-59.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$4.43 FCFA 2,500

-41.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$4.38 FCFA 2,472

-66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$3.63 FCFA 2,046

-47.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$3.47 FCFA 1,956

-40.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$3.57 FCFA 2,011

-50.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$3.56 FCFA 2,009

-38.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$3.60 FCFA 2,031

-71.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.96 FCFA 1,105

-44.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$2.58 FCFA 1,452

58.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$11.74 FCFA 6,620

-12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$0.91 FCFA 511

87.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$1.73 FCFA 974

49.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.91 FCFA 513

-43.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$48.43 FCFA 27.3K

-45.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.30 FCFA 731

150.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.76 FCFA 428

227.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$17.77 FCFA 10.0K

-81.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.04 FCFA 588

25.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$30.5K FCFA 17.2M

-0.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$23.1K FCFA 13.0M

1.34%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

$86.9 FCFA 49.0K

-4.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

$34.91 FCFA 19.7K

-36.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$69.5 FCFA 39.2K

-57.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$66.8 FCFA 37.7K

-22.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$26.14 FCFA 14.7K

-29.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$4.50 FCFA 2,535

12.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

$179 FCFA 100.9K

12.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$5,755 FCFA 3.2M

-9.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$89.1 FCFA 50.3K

-58.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$43.72 FCFA 24.7K

-8.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$52.5 FCFA 29.6K

49.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$108 FCFA 60.7K

-19.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,162 FCFA 655.5K

-16.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$528 FCFA 297.5K

-11.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,600 FCFA 1.5M

-36.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$999 FCFA 563.4K

22.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$3,593 FCFA 2.0M

9.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$2,870 FCFA 1.6M

126.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$435 FCFA 245.5K

52.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

14.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Libreville: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,162 in Libreville. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 53% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $80.0 in Libreville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $400 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Libreville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $1,684 in Libreville – roughly 30% apart. Libreville costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,527 in Libreville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,684 in Libreville. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Libreville at $1,684. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Libreville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,684 in Libreville. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Libreville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.